Coffin-box.



J. A. 000K. I

GOFPIN BOX.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 26, 190B.

91 2,078. Patnted Feb. 9, 1909.

M W A W JOSEPH A. COOK, OF GREER, SOUTH CAROLINA.

GOFFIN-B OX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

Application filed May 26, 1908. Serial No. 435,008.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPH A. COOK, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Greer, in the county of Greenville and State of South Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coliin-Boxes, of which the following is such a full, clear, and exact description as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to the boxes which are placed in graves to receive the caskets or coflins and the object of the invention is to furnish means whereby the lid may be easily guided into an accurate fit on the box when lowered into the grave prior to filling the same and then looked in place. This object is attained in the construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings and the invention consists in certain novel features hereinafter first fully described and then particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a coffin box embodying the invention, the lid being shown as though being lowered into position on the box; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the lid locked inposition on the box, and Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view showing the lid guide.

The box, 1, is of any preferred construction but is usually a plain rectangular box which is placed in the grave prior to the burial. In carrying out my invention, I secure to the sides of the box, near the ends thereof, plates, brackets or keepers, 2., which are slightly offset from the box in order to be engaged by the combined latches and strap-receiving loops, 3, mounted on the lid. These latches and loops consist of open metallic plates pivoted at one corner on the side of the lid, as shown at A, and having at one corner a spur or hook, 5, which is adapted to pass into engagement with a keeper 2 on the box when the latch is swung downward after the lid is lowered into position. On its inner or lower edge, this spur or hook is constructed with a shoulder, 6, which is adapted to engage the upper edge of a keeper, 7, on the side of the lid when the lid is being lowered into the grave. Beyond the shoulder 6, the edge of the latch forms an are which extends around the pivot, as a center, and at that side of the pivot away from the spur or hook the latch is provided with a lateral lip, 9, by which the plate or latch may be held to be swung from one to the other of its positions. At convenient points in the lid, preferably the ends, I form notches or vertical grooves, 10, which will pass into engagement with guide pins, 11, set up on the top edge of the box, as the lid is being lowered and thereby guide the lid into an accurate fit upon the box. The guide pins will, preferably, be capable of turning so that after the lid is in position, the pins may be rotated to bring their heads, 12, over the lid to aid in securing the same. The heads of the pins having a curved or inclined junction with the shanks thereof so as to guide the lid easily over the box.

\Vhen the lid is to be lowered onto the box after a coflin has been placed therein, the latches are swung upward into the position shown in Fig. 1 and the lowering straps or ropes, 13, are inserted through the loops presented by the upstanding portion of the latch. As the shoulder 6, in this position of the latch, is in engagement with the keeper 7 on the lid, the lid will be suspended by the straps and may be readily lowered into the grave. As it approaches the box, it may be easily moved so as to bring the notches or grooves into engagement with the guide pins on the box so that it will fit properly on the box. After the lid is in position, the straps are withdrawn and the undertaker or one of his assistants then enters the grave and swings the latches into engagement with the keepers on the box, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to effectually secure the lid in its place. The guide pins may also be turned so as to project over the lid.

It will be readily appreciated that I have provided very simple means by which the lid may be guided onto and secured to the box and that the device possesses high efficiency. In shipping the boxes from the factory, the lid may be secured to the box without defacing either the lid or the box and the undertaker may easily remove the lid when the box is to be used at a burial. When the latches are swung downward to hold the lid to the box they are out of the way of the boards or slabs which are usually placed over the box before the grave is filled.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters- Patent is 1. The combination of a coffin box, a lid adapted to fit thereon, keepers on the lid and the box, and a latch pivoted on the lid and adapted to engage either of the keepers.

2. The combination with a coffin box, and a lid adapted to fit thereon, of a keeper secured on the side of the box, a keeper on the lid, and a latch pivoted 0n the lid and having a spur adapted to engage the keeper on the box and a shoulder adapted to engage against the under edge of the keeper on the lid.

8. The combination of the box, a lid adapted to fit on the same, keepers on the box and on the lid, and an open latch pivoted at one corner on the lid and having a spur adapted to engage the keeper on the box when the latch is in its lowered position, a shoulder adapted to engage the keeper on the lid when the latch is in its raised position, and a lip at one corner projecting outward from the latch, the portion of the latch between said lip and the shoulder constitntim a loop above the lid when the latch is raised In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

JOSEPH A. COOK.

Vitnesses W. E. JAMES, I. A. MAYFIELD. 

